Shame (2011)

“We're not bad people. We just come from a bad place.”

It is hard to believe that Shame (2011) is only the second film from British director Steve Mcqueen. This gritty, urban film is sure to be a modern classic. At times it’s hard to watch, with explicit scenes demonstrating the seedy and lonely lifestyle of a sex addict.

The film is set in New York and follows the lives of Brandon (Michael Fassbender), the sex addict, and his needy sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan), a self-harmer. The film doesn’t have much more of an overall plot, no beginning or end; it is just a portrait of these two characters facing their inner demons. When we first meet Brandon, we are introduced to a successful business man, living on his own. The film is about the relationship of Brandon and Sissy, after Sissy falls out with a boyfriend and has to move in with Brandon, which extremely effects his sexual actions and in conclusion leads to a downward spiral and loss of control in both Brandon and Sissy’s life and relationship. 

From the outset of the film, the scenes portray Brandon as a lonely, cold individual, unable to make connections with people. The first scene shows Brandon, naked in his bed. All the walls of his room are white, his sheets are blue, giving a very clinical, cold atmosphere. There are shots of naked Brandon, walking past the camera, alongside an audio clip of phone call messages from Sissy. This shows their personality, Sissy being the needy type, Brandon being the stark opposite, only caring for himself and his instant gratification from masturbation.

Perhaps the most explicit scene of the film is near the end of the film, when Brandon has lost all control of his addiction and life. After an argument with his sister he goes out for sex. His whole costume has changed from the beginning of the film, dressing in suits and being clean shaven, to wearing casual jogging gear and looking unkempt with a bruise on his face. He ends up in threesome with two prostitutes . The extreme close ups of the actors and sexual acts completely trap Brandon in this addiction. Fassbender’s acting skills truly come out in the scene. There are no words, just a simple shot of his face, looking animalistic and grotesque. At this moment you can see the true horror, disgust and overall “shame” of his actions and his feeling of entrapment in his lifestyle.

Overall the film really deserves the reviews and attention that it seems to be getting. It is a very open and honest view of a man living with a sex addiction. The film captivates the audience from beginning to end, with very real and raw performances from both Fassbender and Mulligan. It was not simply made just to shock audiences with explicit sex scenes, but to show the brutal honest truth of living with an addiction. A brilliant film, probably not one to watch with Mum and Dad though.  My personal opinion is that I would buy this film for £6 in the HMV sale.

Reds